In an interview with the RIA Novosti news agency, Musa Abu Marzouk, the deputy head of the Hamas Politburo, confirmed that Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov would be released from captivity shortly.
“He will be released despite the fact that he is a war veteran” Marzouk said, adding that the decision to release Trufanov had been made in the first phase of the agreement with Israel. “This is our response to Russia’s position on the Palestinian issue” he stated.
According to Moscow, a solution to the Israeli-Hamas conflict is only possible on the basis of the UN Security Council-approved formula, which envisions the creation of a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
According to the Hamas official, the fate of Maxim Charkin, another hostage from Donbass, would be discussed as part of the additional agreements with Israel. Charkin is a war prisoner and talks about his release would be held in the second phase of the hostage deal, Marzouk said in the interview, adding, “There are many details, but as a counterbalance to Russia, we are ready to release him first, so his name is at the top of the list.”
A delegation of the Palestinian movement, led by Marzouk, arrived in Russia on Monday, with planned meetings at the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, according to RIA Novosti.
During a meeting with members of the Russian Security Council at the end of January, Russian President Vladimir Putin had instructed the Foreign Ministry to do everything to secure the release of Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov, who has been held captive by Hamas. “We have responded to Russia’s request only out of respect for Russian President Vladimir Putin” Marzouk told RIA Novosti on Monday.